Publish at April 05 2022 Updated April 12 2022
How do you sum up an artist's work? It all depends on the art. Literature aficionados will deal with the writing style, film buffs will debate with the politics of authorship and for the visual arts, the portfolio is there. The latter should bring together in a few works the artistic approach of an individual. A glance should say it all. A useful exercise as much for artists as for those in the making.
In fact, art students wanting to enroll in an art program will sometimes need to show the work they have done in the past. The portfolio issue is then essential as it is required by faculties. Of course, it is always possible to make physical ones, such as relief constructions with various materials or paper or like sculpture benefit from this manual approach. On the other hand, digital is becoming the majority especially for photographers and painters.
So, prospective students should think about their portfolio. It should contain approximately 7-12 selected works. Generally, it is advisable to also look at the institution to which the person is applying. This is because not all schools will have the same sensibilities. Open houses are a great way to understand the philosophy behind each art faculty. Besides, they will specify whether they want a physical or digital portfolio. Taking inspiration from those of students who have already been admitted could give a serious boost. However, beware of plagiarism! The idea is to stand out from the competition, to showcase your originality and passion.
The portfolio is not only useful for getting into an art school. It's also worth using it in the coursework. A way for faculty and students to track their progress over the course of a semester. Every assignment from the semester can be dropped in and receive feedback from everyone who has access to it. And it can be adopted in other educational contexts.
The portfolio idea isn't just good in the arts. More and more educators are using solutions like Google Slides or Weebly to show the work done by learners to their peers but also to their parents. In Quebec, RÉCIT had developed a specific platform. Alas, it no longer exists for the moment. The site therefore warns against several solutions that although free are less secure. Indeed, it is necessary to ensure that school portfolios will not be accessible by just anyone. This Australian government site explains how to safely share them on Google services and on iPad.
For students, the use of portfolios is very practical to bring reflection on the study process, learning and what has been accomplished during a given period (whether it is a term or an entire year). On the other hand, not everyone finds it easy to have to use certain digital tools in order to transfer their files to them.
Also, in an academic setting, some were not as invested in it given the time commitment and associated credits. Often the whole thing was accompanied by too many instructions that made the activity confusing. Thus, they need good support in the use of technology and access to models for inspiration and better understanding of the exercise.
Illustrations : Michelle Carlos
References :
"13 Inspiring Art Portfolio Examples That'll Help You Create Your Own." Skillshare. Last updated April 6, 2021. https://www.skillshare.com/blog/13-inspiring-art-portfolio-examples-thatll-help-you-create-your-own/.
"17 Physical Art Portfolio Examples That'll Show Off Your Work as an Artist." Skillshare. Last updated May 5, 2021. https://www.skillshare.com/blog/17-physical-art-portfolio-examples-thatll-show-off-your-work-as-an-artist/.
Drummond, Jennie. "How to Use End-of-Semester Online Portfolios to Measure Growth." The Art of Education University. Last updated November 4, 2021. https://theartofeducation.edu/2021/11/24/nov-how-to-use-end-of-semester-online-portfolios-to-measure-growth/.
"How To Create Digital Art Portfolio For Students?" ArtRadarJournal.com. Last updated November 17, 2021. https://artradarjournal.com/2021/11/17/how-to-create-digital-art-portfolio-for-students/.
"How to Make an Awesome Art Portfolio for College or University." STUDENT ART GUIDE. Last updated May 27, 2021. https://www.studentartguide.com/articles/how-to-make-an-art-portfolio-for-college-or-university.
"Alternatives To The CSJ Portfolio." National Service of ECERS in Preschool Education. Accessed April 1, 2022. https://recitpresco.qc.ca/fr/alternatives-au-portfolio-recit.
Raby, Carole, Émilie Tremblay-Wragg, Sylvie Viola, Paviel Marie-Jocya, and Hélène Meunier. "Digital Portfolio In Pandemic Context. Perception Des Futures Enseignants à L'Enregistrement Numérique En Formation Initiale : Propositions Pour L'évaluation Formative Des Compétences Professionnelles En Contexte De Pandémie Et D'enseignement à distance." Scholar. Last updated August 17, 2021. https://www.erudit.org/en/journals/ritpu/1900-v1-n1-ritpu06276/1080406ar/.
"Showcasing Student Work." NSW Government. Last updated March 31, 2022. https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/learning-from-home/celebration-toolkit/getting-started/showcasing-student-work.
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